Celebrate Green Up Day, pitch in for cleaner roads

Kim Findlay, Green Up Day Co-coordinator

Did you know that Vermont was the first state to designate a day of the year to clean up litter along the roadsides?

Axel Macik cleans up at a previous year’s Green Up Day 2022. Courtesy photo
Axel Macik cleans up at a previous year’s Green Up Day 2022. Courtesy photo.

On that day in 1970, 53 years ago, participation and results far exceeded expectations — 95 percent of the 2,400 miles of the interstate and state roads and 75 percent of the 8,300 miles of town roads were cleared of garbage.

Thanks to Governor Deane C. Davis and Senator George Aiken, we have a wonderful tradition which inspires Vermonters to get out and de-trash this beautiful state.

In our town, Green Up Day has had a robust turnout every year with tons (yes, tons!) of litter removed from our roadsides. This year Green Up Day is Saturday, May 6. We will be at the west parking lot at Charlotte Central School 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

There will also be e-waste recycling brought to you by Sustainable Charlotte.

Things you should know about Green Up Day in Charlotte:

  • There are three ways to sign up for a route: 1) on the Charlotte Green Up Day website (until 6 pm Friday, May 5); 2) email Kim Findlay (until 6 pm Friday, May 5); or 3) at the event on Saturday.
  • Signing up for a route makes the effort more efficient by making sure everyone gets a road that hasn’t been cleaned up yet.
  • Get bags. This year we will be giving out green bags for trash and optional clear bags for redeemable and recyclable plastic containers which get rinsed and recycled. Bags can be picked up at the Old Brick Store, the Charlotte Library and Spear’s Corner Store starting April 28 and at the event on Saturday. Please do not leave filled bags on the roadside — they must be returned to the event site.
  • Volunteers are needed. We would love to have helpers at the Quonset Hut. Two-hour or longer shifts available.
  • Only tires found on roadsides are accepted. This is not the place to get rid of your personal tires.
  • Hazardous waste — this is not a hazardous waste drop-off event.
  • The Charlotte Green Up Day website  has all the information you need … and more. Contact Kim Findlay with any questions, to help out or sign up for a route.

It warms the heart to see folks out cleaning up the town together — and it’s great not to see junk on the side of the road.

Please join in and help on this very special day.